McCarthy joins QPR

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has this afternoon completed a transfer to Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old leaves with our very best wishes after progressing through the Academy all the way to the full England squad. He will always be fondly remembered at Madejski Stadium.

With Alex having entered the final year of his contract here in Berkshire, the initial deal is a good one for Reading Football Club and we also have significant financial protection moving forward.

Alex now gets the chance to ply his trade back in the Barclays Premier League and hopefully push for England honours once again. He has signed a four-year deal at Loftus Road, though will not be available for their clash with Sunderland this weekend.

And importantly, with Adam Federici, Mikkel Andersen et al, the Royals remain in a very good position with regards to goalkeepers for the present and future.

Director of Football Nick Hammond said, “We brought Alex here as a young player and he has developed into a fine goalkeeper who has been part of the senior England setup.

“His aspiration was to go to the Premier League and we fully understand that, this is a really good opportunity for him. He’s another of our Academy players who have gone on to the Premier League, and everybody at the club wishes him well.

“Last but not least, I’d like to thank Queens Park Rangers for the professional manner in which they’ve handled all of our negotiations.”

Manager Nigel Adkins said, “We've got high aspirations for Alex, he's going to be a top Premier League goalkeeper, and we want him to be in the England setup. For him to do that, being in the Premier League is obviously more advantageous, a deal's been acceptable for the football club and we wish him well as he moves on.

“The good thing for us is that in Adam Federici and Mikkel Andersen we've got excellent goalkeepers, then Jon Henly, Dan Lincoln, Stuart Moore, Lewis Ward from the 18s, lots of good young goalkeepers. Feds will be number one and everyone is there to support him.”

Since making his Royals debut in February 2011, McCarthy made a total of 74(+1) appearances in a Reading shirt, and won caps for England under 21s before being part of Roy Hodgson’s squad for senior games against Ireland and Brazil.